July 8, 2010
Worldwide weather patterns have been unusual this year, much of this past week the climate in Southern Baja felt like early spring rather than the start of summer. While the population along the Atlantic seaboard was enduring record setting heat waves with temperatures over 100 degrees, here in Los Cabos the cooler Pacific breeze made for extremely comfortable July conditions. Crowds of tourists are now light, even though the weather and fishing were great. Strong southwest winds contributing to pushing in cooler currents, which in turn dropped both air and water temperatures by a ten degrees or more, but now conditions have rapidly rebounding and water temperatures are an ideal 75 to 78 degrees in the direction of the Sea of Cortez.
Clean blue water is once again being found close to shore, anglers found the most consistent all around action on the fishing grounds from the Gordo Banks to La Fortuna and Iman. Supplies of live caballito and mullet remained steady, though there still were no reports of any of the smaller sized sardinas being available. Surf conditions were increasing as is normal for the summer season, but for the most part anglers encountered comfortable ocean conditions with moderate swells off of the San Jose del Cabo area, while the Pacific reported much rougher seas.
Striped marlin, as well as some early season sailfish and blue marlin were spread out throughout the area. Most numerous were stripers, they were found within a couple miles of shore, would strike on trolled lures, but anglers found that casting live baits to tailing fish was the most successful technique, sizes ranged from 80 to 150 pounds. With more football sized yellowfin tuna, skipjack and bolito schooling on the fishing grounds we do expect more black and blue marlin to be following soon.
Counts of yellowfin tuna increased throughout the week, tuna were found on the Iman Bank by anglers trolling hoochies and Rapalas, these were mostly football sized models. Larger yellowfin were found on the Gordo Banks, striking on various lures, but even more so on strips of Giant Squid, which could be purchased by the kilo at local super markets. Finding the tuna by trolling Rapalas and then chumming and chunking with strips of squid was particularly effective. The majority of these fish ranged from 15 to 40 pounds, though fish to over 100 pounds were accounted for.
Dorado activity became scarce with the fluctuating currents, but we expect for these fish to return in greater numbers as ocean waters continue to warm. Wahoo have remained active in the areas from the Gordo Banks to Iman, action had come to a standstill when the colder currents swept in, but once things warmed back up they were on the go again. Striking an array of lures, such as Rapalas, Yo-Zuris and skirted lead heads. The majority of the wahoo landed weighed 30 to 50 pounds. Wahoo have stayed in local waters all year, which is not always the case, warmer water temperatures throughout the winter kept them from all migrating south, surely these fish will be here through the summer, though at times when water reach into the mid 80s these fish will become sluggish. At this time conditions are very favorable for these prized and elusive sought after gamefish.
Bottom action consisted of mixed reports for snapper, cabrilla and more often amberjack, which some have been of impressive size. Trolling mullet close to rocky reefs, as well as sandy stretches produced good action for roosterfish and a handful of dogtooth snapper. Though overall the big snapper bite has been disappointing this season, while the roosterfish action has made up for the lack of dogtooth. Lots of larger roosterfish this year, though the coming weeks is usually the tail end of this action, as schools of mullets migrate elsewhere as local surf conditions increase.
The combined local panga fleet launching out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 48 charters for the week with anglers reporting a fish count of:
3 sailfish, 6 striped marlin, 124 yellowfin tuna, 13 dorado, 11 wahoo, 26 amberjack, 12 jack crevalle, 4 sierra, 5 pompano, 7 dogtooth snapper, 10 huachinango (red snapper), 9 cabrilla, 18 bonito and 28 roosterfish.
Good fishing, Eric
